#4537

Why am I dissatisfied with the Australian Federal Government? Reason # 4537 - Reactive rather than proactive anti-terror laws.

And where do these laws get us?

To this point: "Locking people up or seriously restricting their liberty when they have not even been charged are characteristics of dictatorship, not a democracy," [Brad] Adams [Asia director of Human Rights Watch] said. "Unjust measures are likely to alienate the very communities whose cooperation is vital to an effective counter-terrorism strategy through the criminal justice system," he added.(from Human Rights Watch slams anti-terror laws, The Age)

Instead of taking careful and considered precautions earlier, stupid laws get created in an hysterical panic and rushed through without a chance to debate or discuss their merits, faults or anything else. But I guess that our Federal (and State governments, who are equally guilty in this travesty) just like to p*ss all over human rights and democracy.

Frankly, it's embarrassing. We're meant to be a nation of friendly, sane and tolerant people who welcome others well enough and have a great spirit of community where we all help each other and are "mates." Instead we're starting to look like a bunch of idiots who live in a variety of wannabe-police state run by neurotics who abuse human rights rather than upholding them as part of our democratic principles (do we still have those or did they slip down the back of the couch at Parliament House?).

The Americans actually have the point of government summed up well with the "By the people for the people" statement. Who knows how long it's been since the Prime Minister has really listened to the people - and not just the people who agree with him on every point. And I mean actual listening where he doesn't just pat the person on the head and say, "That's so nice. Now have a lolly and go away."

*sigh*

Roll on the next election... but I guess things won't change - people seem to like voting for the current government, even though they've lied to us about lots of important things (GST, children overboard, reasons for Iraq invasion, elements of the industrial relation law reforms, etc) and taken away some of our human rights. How embarrassing.